ORANSSI PAZUZU — Mestarin kynsi (review)

ORANSSI PAZUZU — Mestarin kynsi album cover Album · 2020 · Black Metal Buy this album from MMA partners
3/5 ·
ssmarcus
Full disclosure: I listened to this album genuinely wanting to hate it. Count me as one of those people who barely considers experimental atmospheric black metal as music. But regardless of how you might feel about black metal or the various kinds of atmospheric post-rock sub genres out there today, there is still something irresistible about this record. Every song on this record is a clinic on how to skillfully layer music and build tension. And unlike so much of the music in this sub-genre, the ambience actually contains discernible melodious musical ideas.

However, the tragedy of this record is the insufferable and suffocating black metal vocals. Time after time, vocalist Ontto insists on interrupting the band’s groove with the most grating black metal vocals you’ve ever heard (outside of the lo-fi traditional black metal). It’s not that harsh vocals wouldn’t work with this music at all, it’s the specific style, timing, and perhaps mixing of them that is so off-putting.

Oranssi Pazuzu are clearly an exceptional and envelope shattering group. And while they certainly don’t owe it to anyone to change or adapt their sound in anyway, I genuinely regret that their vocal choices are going to deprive a larger audience of hearing what actually makes this band so exceptional.
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siLLy puPPy wrote:
more than 2 years ago
Each album is very different. This one is the most experimental with lots of psychedelic ambience and weirdness. For those who like more structured comps then start at the beginning.
UMUR wrote:
more than 2 years ago
Tried the debut? It´s very different from the last couple of releases.
Triceratopsoil wrote:
more than 2 years ago
on paper this band sounds like something I would love, but I can't get into them
UMUR wrote:
more than 2 years ago
I´m not a huge fan. I like their early albums more as they have more structured songs. I´m generally not a big fan of what to my ears sounds a lot like improvised pieces. There are of course moments of brilliance here though, which my review will also reflect (in backlog to my posted).
siLLy puPPy wrote:
more than 2 years ago
This album is currently #2032 of all time best albums on Rate Your Music with over 4400 ratings so it seems the larger audience likes this more than you do. Personally i love this one but then again i love black metal vocals. Not for everyone. It's definitely cutting edge and experimental.

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